Vacation Like Bette Davis at Her Beloved Butternut Farm

Back in 1939, famous movie star Bette Davis left Hollywood to visit her native New England. And it was here that that she fell in love twice: First with a man named Arthur Farnsworth (who ended up becoming her second husband) and second with a plot of land in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, which she dubbed Butternut Farms.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The property included an old farmhouse (which we spotted on Hooked on Houses) and she named it Butternut Cottage. It was quite extensive, with four bedrooms, five fireplaces, and some truly spectacular post and beam ceilings:

Peabody & Smith Realty Rentals

Peabody & Smith Realty Rentals

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Peabody & Smith Realty Rentals

PEABODY & SMITH REALTY RENTALS

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Peabody & Smith Realty Rentals

And then there's Butternut Lodge, which was an old barn in Vermont that she had dismantled and moved onto her property. This home was designed with entertaining in mind, and features an enclosed porch that's just begging guests to enjoy on a breezy summer night. It also includes four bedrooms on three different levels that are connected by a unique silo staircase.

Alyce Stick via VacationRentals.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Alyce Stick via VacationRentals.com

Alyce Stick via VacationRentals.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Alyce Stick via VacationRentals.com

Alyce Stick via VacationRentals.com

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Sadly, Davis' husband died only three years after they got married after a bad fall, and the actress eventually sold her beloved farm — resulting in a series of owners who neglected and essentially drove the property to the ground. But eventually real estate broker Michael O'Dwyer bought the property and bought it and brought it back to life — complete with plenty of Davis memorabilia.

Now, you can rent out both Butternut Cottage and Butternut Lodge for your own vacation in New Hampshire. Go ahead, pretend you're Davis for the day, we won't judge. Need a little inspiration? Here's a photo LIFE magazine took of Davis' birthday on the farm back in 1941.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
House Beautiful participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.